Pictures We Love: Best of March

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Pictures We Love: Best of March

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Star Conductor

A Chinese military-band conductor rehearses in Beijing's Great Hall of the People before the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference—an annual legislative session—on March 3.

Why We Love It

"Being an architectural symbol of Beijing's politics, the Great Hall of the People always seems attractive to photographers. Of the tons of photos taken from both inside and outside the hall, I've never seen one as engaging as this. The photographer managed to match a strange angle with an interesting moment, making this photo full of life, power, and a little bit of irony."—Echo Xie, photography intern

"I'm sure we've all seen how the flattened perspective of a photograph can be used for comedic effect; in many cases it seems gimmicky, but in this image, the effect adds a bit of whimsy to a serious situation. It's nice to see a photographer paying careful attention to the background of an image."—Chris Combs, news photo editor

—Korena Di Roma

Photograph by Ng Han Guan, AP

Avant-ski

The long shadows of cross-country skiers resemble the skis covering Switzerland's frozen Lake Sils before the start of the Engadin Skimarathon in this aerial picture taken on March 11. More than 11,000 skiers participated in the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) race between the villages of Maloja and S-chanf near the mountain resort of St. Moritz.

"The random distribution of the skiers keeps my eye darting around the image, and it contrasts nicely with the orderly placement of the skis. I love that the skiers' shadows add a third graphic element—diagonals—to the composition."—Rina Rodriguez, associate photo producer

Photograph by Arnd Wiegmann, Reuters

Bathed in Color

Hindu devotees pour colored water on themselves during Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, at the Baldev Temple in Dauji, India, on March 9. The sloshing scene followed a Huranga gathering, in which men typically drench women with colored liquid.

Why We Love It

"This perfect [frozen moment] brings us right into the festival. I keep imagining what happened after the shot. Will the man on the right fall? Will the kids get up and run away? What about the man in the water? There're just so many details and untold stories."—Echo Xie, photography intern

"In news photography, some of the best pictures can be found before an event starts, or after it's over. Come early and stay late!"—Chris Combs, news photo editor

Photograph by Kevin Frayer, AP

The Show Goes On

Plastic ponchos protect operagoers during a rain-soaked dress rehearsal for Verdi's La Traviata, performed on a floating stage in Sydney Harbour on March 22. The first month of autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, March was the Australian city's wettest and coolest month in decades, according to the Sydney Herald Tribune. More than 10 inches (27 centimeters) of rainfall was recorded.

Why We Love It

"At first glance, the viewer might assume it's a die-hard crowd at a sporting event staying until the bitter end regardless of the weather. ... It ain't over till the fat lady sings."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

"The light applied a blue filter on the audience and turned the whole place into a stage, where raindrops and the woman with her umbrella only make the scene more enchanted. Everyone has a role to play."—Echo Xie, photography intern

Photograph by Torsten Blackwood, AFP/Getty Images

Holding Out for a Hero?

William House of Huntsville, Alabama, waits for Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich at a campaign stop at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, on March 6.

Speaking at the home of Space Camp in Huntsville, Gingrich called for a renewed commitment to space exploration, according to the Associated Press.

Why We Love It

"One of my favorite things about this picture is how it evokes the entirety of a political campaign: the expectations, the swagger, the weariness."—Chris Combs, news photo editor

"The color palette of this image is so cool and smooth, with steely grays and blues. It's also a nice sideline moment, as opposed to a photo of a candidate at a podium."—Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor

"The photographer captured a serious moment for this Uncle Sam look-alike that belies the fun of his attire. I wonder if his personality matches his facial expression or his clothing—and also if that beard is as real as it looks!"—Rina Rodriguez, associate photo producer

Photograph by Evan Vucci, AP

Eyeing the Sun

Capsules on the London Eye, a popular tourist attraction on the South Bank of the River Thames, cast shadows against a thick morning fog on March 15. Called the Millennium Wheel when it opened in 2000, thelandmark carries an average of 3.5 million passengers a year, according to the EDF Energy London Eye website.

Why We Love It

"This is an eerie moment, with the light poking through the clouds and the diffused shadow of the London Eye. The light is dispersed in a unique fashion, with the fog lingering later into the morning."—Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor

"I love the dreamlike quality the fog imparts to the London Eye. It reminds me of the old descriptions of foggy London of the past. The overall framing and placement of one of the pods directly in front of the sun help give order and recognition to this famous landmark, keeping it from being just a foggy, unrecognizable blur."—Rina Rodriguez, associate photo producer

"This image shows the absolute power and utter randomness of Mother Nature. A roof is ripped cleanly off a home while a football helmet on a dresser hasn't budged."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

"The angle of this photo makes it look like a studio setup: house with roof blown off, man browsing through books on the dresser among all the ruins, the fallen trees outside. ... It's painful to think they're real people suffering from real loss."—Echo Xie, photo intern

Photograph by Billy Weeks, AP

Earning Their Stripes

Their legs traditionally decorated, young Maasai men prepare for a coming-of-age ceremony, west of Nairobi, Kenya, on March 18.

Why We Love It

"The Maasai people are surprisingly well photographed, but typically the photos show their jumping dance or their dress. I like that this image focuses on a detail to tell a larger story about their unique customs."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

"The body language in this photo has a nice balance, with some of the legs straight and others more relaxed. The paint on their legs has a wonderful texture—you can easily imagine the coarse feeling of dry paint when looking at it."—Janna Dotschkal, associate photo editor

Photograph by Thomas Mukoya, Reuters

Temple Symmetry

Thousands of Buddhist monks chant on Makha Bucha Day at Dhammakaya Temple outside Bangkok, Thailand, on March 7. Makha Bucha commemorates two significant events in the life of the Buddha—who lived about 2,500 years ago—including the spontaneous assembly of 1,250 monks who had come to the Buddha to be ordained.

Why We Love It

"In choosing to capture this scene with a wide-landscape view, the photographer ignores the individuality of these monks and instead presents an image that combines them with the building behind them to form what looks, at first glance, to be one overall structure. The combined teamwork that such perfect form must have required similarly presents the group of monks as one entity, rather than as separate individuals."—Rina Rodriguez, associate photo producer

Photograph by Rungroj Yongrit, European Pressphoto Agency

The Christmas-ing of Easter

Retiree Volker Kraft decorates a tree with 10,000 Easter eggs in his garden in Saalfeld, Germany, on March 21. The Kraft family has been decorating their tree for Easter for more than 40 years.

Why We Love It

"There are basic elements that are fundamental to making a photo great, but sometimes all that matters is that it speaks to you on a personal level."—Monica Corcoran, senior photo editor

"How fun! This image makes me smile at this man's dedication and love for the holiday. It also makes me wonder: Who decorated all of those eggs, is there any candy in them (or are they real?), and who has the unfortunate job of taking them all down?"—Rina Rodriguez, associate photo producer